Corn and cane harvester



(No Modei.)

HV. W. MATTHEWS. CORN AND GANE HARVESTER.

Patented Nov. 2, 1 `886.

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' INVEJVTR Jfhm@ .dttorney (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

H. W. MATTHEWS- CORN AND GANEV HARVESTER. No. 351,877. Patented Nov. 2, 1886.

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(N o Mddelf) 3 Sheets--Sheet 3.

E.. W. MATTHEWS.

CORN ANDGANB HARVESTER, No. 351,877.v Ptented Nov. 2, 18:86.

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'1 WITJVESSES INVENTOR 55 'VF/ab' V57@ ,amm

" I (JM l/ttorney UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

` HUGH W. MATTHEWs, or BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

CORNAND cANE HARVESTER. y

SPECIFICATION forming partev of Letters Patent No. 351,877, dated November 2, 1886.

Application filed December 12, 1885. Serial No. 185,519. (No model.) l

My invention relates-to certain improve-V ments in the construction of the cutting apparatus, reel, and dropper, and in the arrangey ment of the cut-off, operating in connection with the dropper, and will be fully understood from the following description and claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents a side elevation of my improved machine, with the outer fender or 4side of the stalk-platform or dropper-tray and `the adj acent dropper removed or broken away to show other parts, the position of the fender being indicated by dotted outline in part. Fig. 2 is a front elevation ofthe machine, with the points of the fenders or outer sides of the droppertrays broken away; and Fig. 3 is a plan View of the machine, with portions removed to show other parts, and showing in dotted lines' the position the cut-off rods assume when the tray is dumped. Fig. 4 is a perspective View of one`of the 'reels enlarged, showing the means for effecting certain adjustments thereof. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the cut-off of one of the dumping-trays, and certain parts with which it is connected for supporting and operating it; and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the knife guards or fingers and a portion of the finger-bar.

The machine, in its organization or general construction and arrangement of parts, is simi,- larrto that described inReissued Letters Patent No. 10,601, granted to me May 26, 1885, and will therefore be described in detail only so vfar as is necessary to an understanding of` the improvements herein claimed. A stout rectangular main frame (indicated at A) is arranged between the main driving and carrying wheels B and B', and supported at a suitable height above theground upon standards A2, in which the drive-wheel axle B2 is journaled, said axle carrying a bevel-gear, B3, from which motion is communicated to the bandcutters. l

To the forward end of the frame A is secured one or more pendent bars or hangersI- C, pref erably two, as shown, one at each front corner; and to the lower ends of these the fingerbar D is rigidly secured, said bar extending across under the front, end of the main frame and in front of the driving-wheels and projecting laterally on`both sides thereof, as shown.

The proj eet-ing ends of this bar are provided with-suitable guards or fingers, d, preferably of a construction and secured to the bar -D in a manner hereinafter described, and upon each side of each of the two series of ngers thus located, and in suitable bearing-brackets secured to the bar D, are journaled rollers or drums e e and e e2, arranged in pairs, with a set of fingers, d, between each pair. The drums or rollers are by preference provided each with a peripheral groove adapted to receive and guide an endless band-cutter, f orf', one for each pair of drums, and the band-cutters, which are made each from a single strip of thin elastic steel with its forward edge brought to a-knife-edge and serrated, are stretched tightly thereon. The inner and adjacent rollers, e and e, are provided each with a .sprocketwheel, e3, from which driving-chains g extend to driving sprocketwheels G and G`2 on the forward end of a centrally-arranged longitudinal shaft, G, which is geared inV any suitable manner to and operated from the bevel-wheel on the main drive-wheelaxle.

The guards or ngers d may be of any suitable form, that preferred being shown in the enlarged detail view,` Fig. 6, consisting, in the main, of a plate or bar flanged on its upper and lower edges, tapering to a point at its forward end, and yprovided at its rear end with an inclined transverse flange or foot, d', through which it is bolted or otherwise firmly secured to the forward face of the finger-bar D. It is providedon its upper and lower faces or flanged edges with keepers di d4, or loop-guide brackets, through which the endless band cutter passes, and which serve to guide said band and to prevent its being defiected from its proper path by the pressure of the stalks against 'its forward cutting-edge in the forward movement of the Inachine.

Each guard or nger d is provided with a curved or angular rod, d, secured through a foot, d5, or otherwise, to the finger ator near Yits forward end or point, and extending thence IOO upward and backward above the plane of the upper face of the nger to a point in rear of the line or vertical plane of the euttingedge of the knife in such manner as to serve to uphold the stalks of corn against lateral deflection by the action of the cutter', and to guide the same backward for causing them to fall properly on the receiving tray;or platform.

The finger-bar is made preferably of iron in the angular form (in section) indicated in Fig. 6-that is to say, having an upright portion set inelining forward for facilitating its passage over the stubble and other obstructionsand provided at its upper andlower edges with rearwardly-projecting flanges, between which may be secured a bar of wood, D', if desired, for stiffening the bar D and facilitating the attachment thereto of other parts of the ma chine.

H indicates a transverse shaft mounted in suitable bearings on the forward end of the main frame, and to which motion is communicated from. the main drive-wheel axle through suitable sprocketwheels and an endless driving-chain, (indicated in the drawings and described in my former patent, referred to,) the shaft H being also provided with bevel-gears H and H2, engaging and drivingsimilar gears or pinions, H, on the lower ends of upright reelshafts I and l.

The reel-shafts are journaled in upright sleevestandards J and J', having arms j, which project laterally from near their lower ends, and are curved downward outside of the gears connecting the reel-shafts with the shaft H, and have eyes or short sleeves on their lower ends, through which they are pivoted on the ends of said shaft H. The sleeves J and J' have a rod, 71, connecting their upper ends, said rods being divided preferably at two or more points, the adjacent ends thereof being provided one with a right and the other with a left hand screw-thread, and are coupled or united by means of a similarly-threaded sleeve or elongated nut, h', by means of which the reel-shafts and their supportingsleeves may be adjusted on the shaft H, for bringing the gears H3 snugly into mesh with the gears H and H2. At or near the center' of its length the shaft H has a standard, if, pivoted upon it through a sleeve, h, at its lower end, and provided at its upper end with a similar sleeve, h, which surrounds the rod lz', connecting the reel-standard sleeves, and serves to materially stiii'en said rod, and thereby to assist in properly upholding the reels.

The rod 7L has the forward bifurcatcd end of a link or rod, i, connected with it, the rear end of said link being connected to an upright hand-lever, i', arranged within reach of the driver in his seat on the machine, and by the adjustment of which the reel-standard may be rocked on the shaft H, for moving the reels forward or back, as desired., the lever having the usual or any suitable form of thumb-lever, latch, and rack for holding it at the desired adj ustment. The reel standard sleeves have curved arms j', formed on or secured rigidly to their upper ends on the outer sides thereof, which terminate each in an upright or standard, j2, to which is adjustably secured a pendent arm, formed on a cam-ring, K, surrounding the upper end of the reelshaft. The arm k has a series of perforations in it, through any one of which a bolt or set-screw, k', passes into or through the standard j, for setting the cam-ring at the desired height. 'lo the shaft I and l' is secured an adjustable head or disk, l, having a hub or sleeve on its lower side, through which a pin or set-screw, z, passes /into the reel-shaft for holding the head at any desired height thereon corresponding to the adjustment of the cam-ring K, the shaft having a series of sockets or holes to receive the pin or screw t, as shown.

The upper face of the disk l'- has a sei-ies of vertical ribs, l Z', formed upon it, arranged in pairs, to form a series of sockets tangential to a circle outside of but concentric with the reelshaft, in which sockets reel-arms L, L', and L2 are secured by means of pivot pins or bolts Z2 passing through the ribs and through the heel ends of the reelarms. These arms extend outward over the cam-ring K, which is set in an inclined position, with its highest side or portion on the side adjacent to the main frame, and the arms resting thereon are guided and upheld in such manner as to pass in substantially a horizontal position over the cutting apparatus for reeling the stalks in thereto and causing them to be deposited behind the same, after which, owing to the form ofthe cam, said arms are rocked upward on their pivots to pass over the frame and its attachments, and to pass the similarly-actuated arms of the other reel in a manner that will be readily understood. By the adjustments of the reels and their cams, as described, the reels can be readily adapted to the condition of the stalks to be operated upon.

The bundledumping trays or -droppers are constructed substantially as described in my former patent, referred to-*that is to say, each flooring N N' of two parts, connected at the sides with inclined rock-shafts M and M', which are geared together and connected with a single hand or foot lever, enabling the att-endant to operate them simultaneously, as ex planed iu said patent; but this two-part iiooring, instead of extending to the finger-bar, as in said patent, is shortened in front, and the ends thereof may be beveled or rounded off, as shown at a n', Fig. 3, to permit the interpo1 sition between said ends and the finger-bar D of a board, N2, rounded or V-shaped on its rear edge, extending the whole width of the dumping-tray, and hinged at its forward edge to the finger-bar for permitting its rear edge to be raised and lowered with the sides of the tray. The rock-shafts M',or M and M', either or both, are provided with lever-arms m, extending laterally outward and upward, and cords or chains m extend thence to the rear edge of the boards N2, and are connected therewith,

IOC-

striking and being injured by obstructions, `and the beveling or rounding of the ends, as

to adapt them to'be freely swung down in dumping the load without endangeringtheir shown and described, tends to further relieve them from suchdanger and to facilitate their passagevover obstructions, if they should meet any. The board N2, when depressed, will of course swing up freely on its hinge to pass over any obstructions in its path.'

The rock-shafts M' and M' are provided near their forward ends with a short arm or perforated lug, p, ontheir upper or inner sides, from which links p' extend upward and outward, passing through the slatted side frames or fenders, Q, ofthe dropper-tray, their upper ends beingconnected to the outer ends, orv heel extension beyond their pivots, of cut-off rods or bars P and P', pivoted in suitable brackets, q, secured to the upper longitudinal bars, Q', of the slatted fenders Q. The bars or rods P and P' are of sufficient length to cause theends thereof, when they are fraised into a horizontal or nearly horizontal position, to lap by each other, as indicated by dotted Ilines in Fig. .3, and they are raised into this position to adapt them to catchand hold the falling stalks whenever the rock-shafts M and M' are rocked for causing the dumpingtray to discharge its load, and serve to uphold the stalks in an inclined standing position un'- til the dumping-tray, after discharging its load, is returned to position to receive a new load, the cut-ott' rods P and P', simultaneously with such return of the dumping-tray, being allowed to swing down against the sides of the tray, depositing their load in the latter in a manner that will be readily understood.

The means for supporting the dumpingtrays are substantailly the same as in my formei' patent, referred to, and need not be herein described. i

In the arrangement of the endless band-cutter described the stalks will be severed at two points-one above Vand the other below the guards or lingers d-and only the upper and valuable portion will of course be saved; kbut the heavy chopping action incident to the use of theseallopedcutter in common use,whether in a reciprocating or endlesschain form, is

avoided, and the cutting `action-is steady and uniform, equalizing or evenly distributing the will be constructed and arranged substantially as described in my former patent referred to.

Having now described my invention, Iclam as new l. In a corn and cane harvesting machine, an endless band-cutter having a straight or continuous serrated cutting-edge, in combination with fingers provided each with an independent guide for said band eutter,.substan ti'allyl as described.

2. The combination, in acorn and canehar- Vester, of the fingers provided each with independent guides on their upper and lower sides or faces, and an endless band-cutter passing around said fingers and through said guides,

substantially as described.

3. In a corn and cane harvester, tlie two endless band-cutters arranged to'project on opposite sides of and to be operated from a single central driving-shaft, in combination with the fingers provided each with a guide for said endless cutters, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. Inacorn-harvester, the combination,w1th

the guards or fingers provided with an inde` pendent guide, of a continuously-moving endless band-cutter and curved rods or fingers arranged to overhangu the cuttingedge of said bandfcutter for supporting the stalks against lateral deflection, substantially as described.

5. The upright reel-shafts provided with the adjustable disks having the'vertical ribs on their upper faces arranged in pairs and forming, in connection with the disk to which they are applied, open-top sockets for the reelarms, in 'combination with the reel-arms pivoted in said sockets, and the adjust-able cams, all arranged and operating substantially as described.

standards, the dividing-rod connecting said.

standards, means, substantially as described, for adjusting, and the intermediate standard for supporting, said connecting-rod, substantially as described.

8. The combination of the reel-actuating shaft, the reel-standards pivoted thereon,the divided rod connecting said standards, the intermediate supporting-standard forl said rod, and the adjusting-lever connected to said rod for adjusting the reels, substantially as described. p

9. The dropperor dumping trayprovided with the longitudinally-pivoted parts or sides N N', and the transversely-pivoted part or board located in front of the parts or sides N and N', substantially as described.

.10. The dropper composed of thelongitudinally-hinged sides N and N', and the. transverscly-hinged board N2, in front of said sides, in vcombination with the longitudinal rockroo IIO

shaft provided with a lever-arm, and a ilexible connection between said arm and the hinged dropper section or board N2, substantially as described.

11. The pivoted sides N and N of the dun1pingtray bottom or liooring, provided with the rounded or beveled forward ends, in combination with the transverse Vshaped portion of said tray arranged in front of said sides, substantiall)v as and for the purpose described.

12. The combination, with the longitudinally-divided dumping-tray, of the divided cut-oft', consisting` of the rods P and P, arranged at or near the front, above and on opposite sides ofthe divided tray and pivoted to the side fenders thereof, and connections between said rods and the tray-sections, whereby said parts are operated simultaneously in such manner that as the sections of the tray are dropped the cut-oft' rods will be raised to support the falling stalks in an inclined standing position, substantially as described.

13. The divided dumping-tray, having the longitudinal side shafts provided with lugs or arms p p, in combination with the divided cutoff, consisting of pivoted rods P and P', arranged near the forward end of and above said dumping-tray, and connections between said cutoff rods and the armspp, whereby, when the tray-sections are dropped to discharge their load, the eut-off rods will be raised to catch and uphold the falling stalks in an inclined standing position until the tray is again raised, substantially as described.

14. The eombination,in a corn and cane han vester, of the dumpingtray having its ooring composed of side sections connected to longitudinal rock-shafts, and a hinged transverse section connected with and operated from the longitudinal shaft of a side section, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 9th dayof December, A. D. 1885.

HUGH W.l MATTHEXVS.

Witnesses:

Hanan; SUNNE, AUGUSTUS L. CLAYTON. 

